Meteorite burns up over Russia's Urals: authorities

A TV grab shows the trail of a meteorite falling in the Chelyabinsk Region, Russia, Feb. 15, 2013. Some 50 people have sought medical assistance after a meteorite burst into the sky over Russia's Urals region, the Interior Ministry said Friday. (Xinhua)

MOSCOW, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- A meteorite burst into the sky over Russia's Urals region and burned up before landing, the Emergency Situations Ministry said Friday.

"What happened over the Urals region was not a meteor shower, as was reported earlier," ministry spokesperson Yelena Smirnykh told the Interfax news agency. "It was a meteorite which burned up as it passed through the lower layers of the Earth atmosphere."

Smirnykh confirmed that the "impact wave, which smashed windows in several houses in the region, has caused several injuries."

Local media reported earlier that a meteorite fell in the region and four children were injured by shards of window glass smashed by the falling space debris.

The spokesperson noted that radiation levels remain normal in the area. "No increase in radiation levels have been observed. The meteorite did not affect them," said Smirnykh.

Meteorite pieces were not expected to actually land in the region, Smirnykh said, adding that regional emergency services have been put on high alert.